Valve lifter



Feb. 10, 1931. SUNNEN 1,792,451

VALVE LIFTER Filed Dec. 17, 1927 l'iwe/ziar Jase fa 5102/2/02 Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES JOSEPH SU NNEN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI VALVE LIFTER Application filedlileceinber 17, 1927. Serial No. 240,723.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in valve lifters of the type disclosed in the United States Patent No. 1,588,- 504, issued to me June 15, 1926.

In this type of valve lifters, the actuating handle is pivotally connected to the base member and has a link connection with the movable aw member for actuating the latter. A locking member is slidably arranged on said base or stationary jaw member andvis movable longitudinally thereof into engagement with said handle for locking the latter in position.

The objects of the present invention are to provide an improved valve lifter of simple construction which can be economically manufactured, and which is efficient in performing its intended functions.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a valve lifter of the class described wherein the actuating lever or handle is pivotally connected to the movable jaw member and has an operative fulcrum engagement with the stationary jaw member.

Additional objects of my invention are to provide, simple means for engaging said actuating lever and locking it in operative position and to preferably arrange said locking meanson said movable jaw member.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain'novel features of, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, and claimed, and illustrated, in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the valve lifter showing the jaws thereof in contracted positions in readiness to be inserted between thevalve spring and the seat thereof.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken longitudinally through the valve lifter and showing the same in extended position.

Figure '3 is a vertical cross section taken on line 33 of Figure 1. r 1

Figure 4 is a perspective detail view of the r locking member. 7

Figure 5 is a fragmental top plan view of the valve lifter asshown in Figure 1.

The present invention is in particular de- I signed for use with engines having'co'mparatively small sized springs and valves, and is therefore of compact construction without however sacrificing the spring compressing movement of the jaws. My device conteme plates a valve lifter having a pair of jaw members arranged for movement relatively to each other and having its jaws adapted to engage the lower end of a valve spring and the seat thereof, whereby, by actuating the handle of said valve lifter, said jaw members are spread apart and said valve spring is compressed and displaced from its seat. Referr ng by numerals to the accompany mg drawings, 10 indicates a base or stationary aw member having jaws 11, and 12 ind1cates an upper or movable jaw member having aws 14. Said jaw members are preferably formed of pieces of metal strips of suitable width and thickness cut to proper shape. Member 10 is preferably formed of two parallel portions 15 connected together 76 by suitable rivets or spacers 16 and 17 and havlng their jaw ends shaped to form jaws 1 1. These aws are adjustable laterally relatlve to each other by means 18 preferably consisting of a nut and screw by means of which said jaw member may be adjusted. J aw member 12 is similarly formed having parallel portions 19 which are bent near their ends laterally to form jaws 14, and provide substantially horizontally presented portions 80 14a which serve as a support for receiving the washer or lower end of a valve spring. I

Member 12 has its rear end pivotally con nected to member 10 bya pin 20 at a point spaced a suitable distance rearwardly from if pm 17 A pin 21 is fixed to and extends transversely between the parallel portions of member 12 near the aws 14. A lever or handle 22 has its forward end 23 pivotally mounted on said pin 21 and extends rearwardly therefrom for cooperating with handle portion 10a of base member 10. Handle 22 is formed immediately beyond its pivotal end 23 with a curved portion 24. The convex face 25 of this handle is engageable with S5 and has sliding contact with pin 17 which thereby forms a fulcrum for said lever. Thus, when pressure is applied to handle 22 and said handle is moved downwardly, the H pivotal end 23, by virtue of the engagement of curved portion 2 1' with pin 17, is raised upwardly thereby actuating aw member 12 in upward direction on pivot 20, as shown in Figure 2. Pin or fulcrum member 17, which is of comparatively large diameter, is provided with a peripheral groove 17a for receiving the curved edge of portion 24.

A locking member 26 is slidably mounted on the parallel portions of member 12 between pivotal points 20 and 21 and is movable into engagement with handle 22 for interlocking jaw member 12 with said handle and locking said parts in actuated positions. This locking member comprises a body portion 2. extending between parallel portions of member 12 and formed substantially U- shaped with the ends presented upwardly and iirojecting beyond the upper edges of said parallel portions. The forward end of body portion 27 is provided with laterally disposed extensions 28 which overhang the upper edges of said parallel portions. The downwardly presented or crown portion of the body portion 27 is provided with lateral extensions 29 which are adapted to bear against the lower edges of member 12 and against the upper edge of handle 22 whereby, by being wedged between said edges, it prevents the relative movements of parts 12 and 22, in this manner locking aw member 12 in moved position. Member 26, when placed on member 12, cannot be detached, thereby preventing loss thereof and is formed of a single piece of material bent to proper shape thereby providing a strong and durable construction.

The valve lifter of my improved construction is particularly designed for use with small sized springs and is of compact construction and can be manufactured at low cost.

lVhile I have disclosed herein the preferred form of valve lifter, it is obvious that my invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. A valve lifter comprising a pair of jaw members, one of which is fulcrumed fdr movement relatively to the other jaw memher, a lever pivotally connected at one end to said movable jaw member and provided with a curved portion supported on and having a sliding fulcrum engagement with the other jaw member for actuating said movable jaw member and a member slidably mounted on said movable jaw member and movable into wedging engagement with said lever for locking said movable jaw member in actuated position.

2. A valve lifter comprising a pair of jaw members, one of which is fulcrumed for movement relatively to the other jaw memher, a lever ivotally connected at one end to said mova le jaw member and provided with a curved portion supported on and having a sliding fulcrum engagement with the other jaw member for actuating said movable jaw member, and a member engageable with said lever for locking said movable jaw member in extended position.

3. A. valve lifter comprising a pair of jaw members, one of which is fulcrumed for movement relatively to the other jaw member, a lever pivotally connected at one end to said movable jaw member and provided with a curved portion which rests on and has a sliding fulcrum engagement with the other jaw member for actuating said movable jaw member, and a member slidably mounted on said movable jaw member and engageable with said lever for locking said parts in actuated position.

4:. A valve lifter comprising in combination a pair of jaw members, one of which is fulcrumed for movement relative to the other jaw member, a lever pivotally connected at one end to said. movable jaw member and provided with a downwardly presented convex portion, the lower edge of which has a sliding supporting fulcrum engagement with the other jaw member for actuating said movable jaw member, and a member movably mounted on said movable jaw member and engageable with the upper edge of said lever for locking said parts against restoring movement.

5. A valve lifter comprising in combination a pair of pivotally interengaged jaw members having cooperating jaws, each of said jaw members consisting of a pair of parallel bars secured together in spaced relation, a pin extending transversely between and secured to the bars of the lower jaw member, and a lever having one end in pivotal engagement with one of said jaw members at a point remote from the pivotal interengagement of said jaw members and provided with a curved portion, the lower edge of which rests on and has a sliding fulcrum engagement with said pin for actuating said jaw members into extended positions relatively to each other.

6. A valve lifter comprising a pair of pivotally interengaged jaw members having cooperating jaws, each of said jaws consisting of a pair of parallel bars, means for securing each pair of bars together in spaced relation, a lever having one end pivotally connected to one of said jaw members near the jaw end. thereof and having an outwardly curved portion engageable with the spacing means of the bars of the other jaw member so as to form asliding fulcrum'for said lever and cause said jaw members to spread apart.

7. A valve lifter comprising a pair of pivot ally interengaged jaw members having cooperating jaws, a lever having one end pivotally connected to one of said jaw members near the j awend thereof andhaving an outwardly curved portion engageablewith the other jaw member so as to form a sliding fulcrum for said lever and cause said jaw members to spread apart, and a locking member movable into interengagement with said lever and the jaw member to which said lever is pivotally connected for locking said lever and said jaw member against relative movement.

8. A valve lifter comprising a pair of pivotally interengaged jaw members having cooperating jaws, a lever having one end pivotally connected to one of said jaw members near the jaw end thereof and having an outwardly curved portion engageable with the other jaw member so as to form a sliding fulcrum for said lever and cause said jaw members to spread apart, and a member slidably arranged on one of said aw members and movable into engagement with said lever for locking the latter in position.

9. In a device of the class described, a pair of jaw members, one of which is fulcrumed on the other, each jaw member consisting of a pair of parallel bars, means for securing each pair of bars together in spaced relation, a

, lever pivotally connected at one end to said fulcrumed member near the jaw end thereof and disposed between the'bars thereof, said lever being provided with a convex portion presented towards the other jaw member and bearing on one of said spacing means to form a sliding fulcrum for said lever when actuating said pivotal jaw member.

10. A valve lifter comprising in combination a pair of jaw members pivotally interengaged near their remote ends, an actuating lever pivotally mounted at one end to one of said jaw members near the jaw end thereof,

said lever having an outwardy curved portion and a rearwardly and outwardly extended handle, a transversely disposed fulcrum member on the other jaw member at a point spaced intermediate the pivotal mounting of said lever and the pivotal interengagement of said jaw members, said fulcrum member being engageable by said curved portion to form a sliding fulcrum for said lever, and a locking member cooperating with said lever and one of said aw members for locking the latter in open positions.

In testimony whereof I hereunto alfix my signature this 13th day of December, 1927. JOSEPH SUNNEN. 

